Thailand's Cabinet on Aug 25 approved amendments to four securities and capital markets laws designed to accelerate investigations into insider trading, stock manipulation and corporate fraud, the Securities and Exchange Commission said.

Under the changes, SEC officials would work directly with police on serious market offences. Criminal investigations currently take more than two years due to limited resources and expertise, said SEC secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon. The amendments would also tighten oversight of auditors and financial advisers. Parliament approval is expected, with the measures set to take effect in 2027.

The overhaul follows accounting scandals at cable maker Stark, which defaulted on nearly 40 billion baht of liabilities in 2023, and renewable-energy company Energy Absolute, which faced fraud allegations in 2024. "Investors have demanded much stricter enforcement against wrongdoers to restore their confidence," Pornanong said, The Straits Times reports.